Hi, i have a gross question: (also i am presently waiting for my GI to call me back on this.)

Is IBS related in anyway to a "Foamy poo"? sorry, it is gross--but i had an explosive flare-up and it was foamy, like soapy, billions of tiny bubbles...

I have heard that "foamy" could be a symptom of a parasite (which i do not have, it was ruled out about two months ago) or Celiac disease. Now i have not been tested for celiac, but i was diagnosed with IBS, could the two be related? Or is it one or the other? So far my triggers i thought were eggs, dairy and fatty fried foods, could wheat just be another IBS trigger? Or could it be that i should have been tested for Celiac before being diagnosed with IBS?

Does anyone know what i am talking about? (i did eat two items containing wheat before the attack.)

Also, i know it was me, and not my toilet cleaner causing the appearance of foam.

Hey bunny. They should definitely check you for celiac disease (blood work and biopsies) before giving you a diagnosis of IBS. They should also do several ova/parasite exams and probably a stool culture to rule out the possibility of bacterial infections. Have they ever done this stuff?

I have foamy diarrhea sometimes too. Actually a few times today I've had it. Then again, I'm told it's not IBS. But they haven't told me what it IS yet.

I agree that you should get checked out for other things before ruling out. I am not too familiar with foamy diarrhea but another member mentioned that she had fizzy stool before so I am wondering if it is the same or similar. The only thing that I can think of with this is maybe you have a lot of air trapped in your stool. When you do find out the answer from the GI please post what they said... I am very curious to know about this. Take Care

Hugs, Des

Moderator ~ IBS Forum

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it" - Mary Engelbreit

Hey dbab, it was me... with the "fizzy" poop. I had taken some Gas-X right before an attack and my poop kinda fizzled away like an Alka-Selzer does. It was strange but I think I figured out it was the Gas-X since it only happened that one time. (No foam or bubbles, just combustion.)Good luck, Bunny. I really hope your doctor can give you some answers. Please let us know what you find out.

I thought it was you Lil but didn't want to look stupid if I was wrong LOL.

Another thing that comes to mind with the foamy stool is that maybe you are having malabsortion(sp?) issues. I know that stool that is high in fat content will tend to be frothy. Gosh, I just keep picking my brain on this one LOL.

Hugs, Des

Moderator ~ IBS Forum

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it" - Mary Engelbreit

I had cultures done a while back (i had blood for 29 days straight) and i know they took blood from me, two vials, but the only information i got on that was low electrolytes and anemia. And i had an EGD and colonoscopy where i was told they did biopsies and removed a polyp. In all of that would celiac testing or even malabsorbsion be an additional test? (I am the one who thinks my doctor might be full of it, but am concerned about going to see another one...) the first time i met him i asked if it could be celiac (it is in the family) and he said that we should first do the scopes...

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a mal-absorbtion thing, i feel like my immune system is shot (today i have no voice and yesterday i had a small fever) and it seems that everything i eat just flys right on out... I think i saw the foam action before, but i figured it was cause i recently cleaned my toilet....

as for the fat i have cut out everything delicious, but hey as of right now i guess it could be anything!

Lil, i feel bad about your alka setlzer poo, honestly i don't know what i would do if i saw my stool taking flight in the toilet... i think i would first laugh and debate if i should show someone, then cry realizing that most people don't inspect their waste as thoroughly as i....

i thank you all for your help, i didn't hear from the GI tonight, so i am on my own again. i am monitoring my intake very closely, i have no idea what it is. It is kinda depressing, i love food so much (seriously, i love buying it, reading about it, tv on it, cooking it, eating it...everything) so to be in my kitchen and not know what is hurting me is very frustrating... but here i am preachin' to the choir.... thank you all for taking such an interest, trust me the moment i know anything i will tell you all...

Oh, i also just had a lactulose breath test, to test for bacteria overgrowth... jury is still out on that one... i find out thursday...--bunnywhat would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

yes i did, and let me say that was the worst gas cramps ever!! ( i personally, am more of a belcher... loud and painful...) But i haven't seen blood for at least two weeks... so that is good, right?i hate so say this, but a lot of the people on this site sound like they have been in this torture for years... i mean i had a lot of stomach upsets and problems in high school and college, but the attacks just started about a year ago... is this what the rest of my life is going to feel like? (as you all laugh at the naive girl) No seriously, this is all we got "You have IBS, here is a pamphlet and write down everything you eat and examine it when it comes out..." Come on... that is just silly... I like answers...some hints at least...--bunnywhat would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

hey Bunny, That foam thing happens to me alot! especially if i'm goin alot- now that blood thing- would worry me alot!!!!!!! am the queen of crappers, but the only time i see any blood is from my rectum being whiped so much, mostly on real bad days of burning yellow water stools. i don't know as i'd take ANY meds until this blood thing is figured out!you think the foam thing is bad- alot of times i will crap colored water w/ what looks like seseme(mis spl) seeds floating on top and i haven't eaten ANY!!! have not heard of this from anybody else before and was checked for parasites and the dr. said if there were any parasites he would have seen them during the colonoscopy , at least that is what he told me 2 wks ago.DO NOT LET UP ON THAT DR OVER THE BLOOD THING!! i've had this ibs for 19 years and up to 22 times in a day and can't say the blood appeared other than what i already said. am seriously thinking of that lotronex med as have been crappin like a nut lately! just weighing those options still. please bug that dr everyday till HE figures out your blood problem- a squeaky tire will get oiled! If HE can't figure out the cause then tell him to refer you to someone who will- he's not doing free gratis work on you - you are paying for a service rendered and exspect nothing less! i appreciate the work dr do , but they are simply people just like us but that is the profession they choose- just like the rest of us! give your respect when earned-if you hired someone to paint your house and they were doin a lozy job you would fire them wouldn't you? don't accept less- you are worth alot more!!! Jenny

thanks!but the blood stopped about four to five days after the polyp was removed. i haven't seen it since, should i still be concerned? (it stopped when he put me on Canasa, a suppository with terrible side effects--i was on it for two days maybe?) i was also given a CT scan after the colonoscopy, because i had pain and blood--but that checked out fine. then he diagnosed me with IBS (and i cried-- to me he was saying, "oh well--nothing is wrong--can't help you!") i stopped eating fats and wheat, and i am feeling pretty good, except for a sore throat that is keeping me home today. i have small d attacks--nothing like my usual ones... but i think it is all because of the restrictions i have put on myself--i feel like i am more of the doctor than my doctor is!!!it is funny, i tell everyone else to go to a doctor and get checked out--but for me i thing, ah heck its nothing!! i will pursue this... thanks!--bunnydo you know what causes your foamyness?as for the sesame seeds--that sounds farmiliar, i think i read that somewhere, i will look it up...what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

I don't know if anyone checks this thread anymore, but I have 2 cents to add, just in case. I, too, have IBS on the diarrhea end of the spectrum. I've had it at some degree for nearly 40 years, but the last 10 have been nearly paralyzing. Some days I'm afraid to leave home, & some days it doesn't matter b/c I don't get to the bathroom in time even though it's only a few feet away from where I am sitting. It's terribly embarassing to tell your boss why you have to go home!

Anyway, about the foam. I was online trying to verify something I seem to remember reading in the past. It seems that the undigested fat mixes w/ the bile & essentially forms a soap. (Like old-fashioned homemade soap made from lard & lye.) Has anyone else heard of this? I can't find it tonight. It makes sense for me b/c I don't have a gallbadder to store the bile & it is continually mixing in my gut. The only non-sensical part is the foam tends to how up when I eat fresh fruit & vegetables more than if I give in to a fatty meal.

I've been experiencing the same thing, typically after eating a hamburger or a steak. I've kinda jokingly referred to it as my P.H.D. (post-hamburger dump). I usually get hit with cramping withing 2-4 hours after eating beef, and my stool ends up being foamy and fluffy looking. After one session in the bathroom, I'm generally feeling better, but sometimes have to go back in again after about an hour.

I don't have any similar reactions to eating pork, chicken or fish.

I have been diagnosed with IBS (about 2 years ago) and take Bentyl for cramping when needed.

M melly, I too have no gal bladder and this uncontrolled foam. I find too many yeast products, bread, fatty foods or vegetables cause it too worsen. Not much help as that leaves water and plain potato. Yeast intolerance's sometimes happen in a strained system. Lactose intolerance also causes foam. Might be reaction.

Bunnybabe, I too feel like the doctor as my one has left me to put up with it for fifteen years, Just off to demand some help or change doctor. If they had it they would do something about it, but until experienced they have no idea how disabling this is.

rdula. Some people are allergic to beef, similar to lactose intolerance. It is something to do with the natural salts in the beef. I remember seeing it when researching lactose intolerance. Check it out on google. When you react you can sweat profusely,have pain, loose control or feel dizzy.

I love walking but can't go anywhere without toilet facilities within ten min walk, bad times two minutes. Anyone got any ideas on modesty precautions if out? Projectile accidents will not contain. I HATE being like this, I feel so unclean and useless, Do you feel like this?

I am a couple of months down the line with the indigestion remedy. The uncontrollable Bile D has almost stopped. I am gradually lowering the dose of the mixture to balance in with my ordinary diet. If I eat a lot of greasy food or rich stuff I increase dose. Most pain has almost stopped and I have gained a bit of weight.

I can eat a bit of bread without gas and d. Diet going back to normal. Still not eating cheese unless lactose free but ate a few cheddar biscuits the other day and was not writhing in agony. Cheap remedy and worth a try for anyone suffering.

Incidentally probiotics were hurting me when they went down before, well the ones in yogurt and soya deserts.

Just posting for those w/ foam. For occasional lactose intolerance, an imbalance of microbes in the gut,I eat a heavy dose of pickled vegetables (Giardeniera).Pickles may work.I use giardeniera because the carrots will definitely make the whole trip.The vegies don't fully digest and the vinegar will kill alot of microbes so you can rebalance.Then you can eat a probiotic(Activia)or just do what I do,take dairy in small doses every day,increasing as you go,until you're back to normal intake. For bubbly terds,it's possible dish soap is somehow getting in your food,too much detergent in the dishwasher, not rinsing something enough if done by hand.Utensils,cups,glasses,plates...and pots n pans,all should be squeaky after rinsing.More soap in the dishwasher doesn't mean cleaner dishes,it only rinses so much.According to your water condition you can even reduce detergent if your water isn't too hard. http://www.healingwell.com/community/posticons/icon11.gif